Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 10 April 2014

Public Accounts Committee

Payments to Section 39 Companies: (Resumed) Rehab Group

1:50 pm

Mr. Keith Poole:

If I may finish my point, revenue reserves have moved from a negative €7.8 million to a positive €17 million. I am a chartered accountant and I am not going to hold up a flag for the Institute of Chartered Accountants but this change is due to what is called the FRS 17 adjustment, which is our pension adjustment. Taking the €17 million figure, we pay €9 million per month in wages. Even under the new statement of recommended practice, charities have to set a policy for reserves. For an organisation of our scale, I do not consider €17 million to be a huge reserve. However, I take the Deputy's point that our accounts suggest we are a very wealthy organisation.

The balance sheet also includes a figure for cash, comprising cash and cash deposits. As we also borrow money, our net cash position, which is set out in the notes in page 38, was €17 million at the end of 2012 and fell to €15 million at the end of 2013. I accept that the accounts might give the impression we are a wealthy organisation, but as the person responsible for our finances, I believe our reserves are appropriate for what we do.

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